Antenna for a submarine

• US 9,515,375 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Calzoni S.r.l. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Calzoni S.r.l. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lucci, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): JEAN PIERRE, PEGUY
• Application Number:
  US14/519,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20150318606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 343/709, 343/710, 343/719
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/38 Arrangement of visual or electronic watch equipment, e.g. of periscopes, of radar periscopes, optical aiming or sighting devices per se G02B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1235 Collapsible supports; Means for erecting a rigid antenna
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/34 Adaptation for use in or on ships, submarines, buoys or torpedoes for subaqueous use H01Q1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/50 Structural association of antennas with earthing switches, lead-in devices or lightning protectors

Abstract

An antenna for submarines comprises a base member extending along a main direction of extension between its bottom end, which is fixable to a structure of a submarine, and its top end, at least one movable stem, juxtaposed with the base member and extending along the main direction of extension between its bottom end and its top end, electrical connection means between the stem and the base member and movement means by which the stem is moved relative to the base member along the main direction of extension between a lowered position and a raised position. The connection means comprise a wire-shaped element extending between two end portions connected to the stem and to the base member, respectively, where at least the end portion connected to the stem is equipped with an underwater connector.

Claims

1. An antenna for submarines, comprising:

a base member extending along a main direction of extension between a base member bottom end, which is fixable to a structure of a submarine, and a base member top end;

at least one movable stem, juxtaposed with the base member and extending along the main direction of extension between a movable stem bottom end and a movable stem top end;

electrical connection means between the movable stem and the base member;

movement means by which the movable stem is moved relative to the base member along the main direction of extension between a lowered position and a raised position;

wherein the connection means comprise a wire-shaped element extending between two end portions connected to the movable stem and to the base member, respectively, where at least the end portion connected to the stem is equipped with an underwater connector.

2. The antenna for submarines according to claim 1, wherein the wire-shaped element has a first end portion and a second end portion connected to opposite ends of the movable stem and of the base member, respectively.

3. The antenna for submarines according to claim 2, wherein the first end portion of the wire-shaped element is connected by the underwater connector to the bottom end of the movable stem and the second end portion of the wire-shaped element is connected to the top end of the base member.

4. The antenna for submarines according to claim 2, wherein the wire-shaped element extends at least partly helically round the movable stem or round the base member, wrapping the movable stem or the base member, respectively, in a plurality of coils.

5. The antenna for submarines according to claim 4, wherein the wire-shaped element is deformable by compression, as a function of a position of the movable stem relative to the base member, between an extended configuration, where the coils around the movable stem or around the base member are spaced far apart, and a compressed configuration, where the coils around the movable stem or around the base member are close together.

6. The antenna for submarines according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the wire-shaped element connected to the base member is welded to the bottom end or top end of the base member.

7. The antenna for submarines according to claim 1, wherein the end portion of the wire-shaped element connected to the base member is equipped with an underwater connector.

8. The antenna for submarines according to claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the base member is connected to a tuning apparatus.

9. The antenna for submarines according to claim 1, wherein the wire-shaped element includes a litz wire insulated with a polyurethane sheath and coiled.

10. A lifting apparatus for interface devices of a submarine, comprising:

an elongate containing body defining a housing compartment;

means for lifting the elongate containing body relative to a structure of a submarine;

an antenna according to claim 1, housed at least partly inside the elongate containing body.

11. The lifting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the movable stem movement means are associated with the elongate containing body and are configured to move the movable stem by at least one chosen from extending and retracting the movable stem relative to the elongate containing body.